25, 50 and 75 Years Ago

Vol. 85/No. 6 - February 15, 2021

February 19, 1996 A two-day strike of almost half a million miners in Russia highlighted the deepening economic and political crisis there and the growing numbers of workers facing depression conditions. One million Ukrainian miners joined the strike, bringing the…


How SWP, Teamster leaders fought gov’t frame-up in 1940s

Vol. 85/No. 6 - February 15, 2021
Above, 18 SWP and Teamsters leaders, framed up for opposition to U.S. rulers’ drive to enter World War II, on way to federal prison Dec. 31, 1943. Inset, pamphlet used in defense campaign. One law used to unleash FBI against the party was Foreign Agents Registration Act, being used by the Justice Department today.

Socialism on Trial: Testimony at Minneapolis Sedition Trial by James P. Cannon is one of Pathfinder’s Books of the Month for February. Cannon was the lead defendant among 18 leaders of the Socialist Workers Party and Minneapolis Teamsters union framed…


US rulers’ ‘administrative state’ seeks to control workers’ lives

Vol. 85/No. 6 - February 15, 2021
The number of employees in the U.S. administrative state apparatus increased from 4 million in 1939 to 21.4 million today. Most are in administrative, regulatory, police and military departments, who maintain capitalist order and social relations of exploitation and oppression. Sharp drop in 2020 result of capitalist crisis after pandemic.

Starting out his presidency by issuing a swath of executive orders, Joe Biden, like Barack Obama, Bill Clinton and Donald Trump before him, is strengthening the administrative state, an intrinsic part of modern U.S. capitalist rule. Through thousands of federal…


Gas workers in UK strike against boss moves to cut pay

Vol. 85/No. 6 - February 15, 2021

STOCKPORT, England — Striking gas workers in the U.K. have held 11 strike days beginning Jan. 7 through Feb. 1, standing up to bullying tactics by Centrica bosses seeking to impose pay cuts. The 7,500 workers, members of the GMB…


Minnesota refinery workers win support in fight for safety, jobs

Vol. 85/No. 6 - February 15, 2021
Locked out Teamster Local 120 members and their families picket at gas station supplied by Marathon Oil in St. Paul Park, Minnesota, Jan. 30 in fight against unsafe working conditions.

PAUL PARK, Minn. — Teamsters Local 120 members at Marathon’s oil refinery here have been on strike since Jan. 21, fighting for safer working conditions and no subcontracting out of jobs. The union made an unconditional offer to return to…